What illness causes swollen legs and feet?

Although edema can affect any part of your body, you may notice it more in your hands, arms, feet, ankles and legs. Edema can be the result of medication, pregnancy or an underlying disease — often congestive heart failure, kidney disease or cirrhosis of the liver.


What medical conditions make your legs swell?

Advertisement
  • Acute kidney failure.
  • Cardiomyopathy (problem with the heart muscle)
  • Chemotherapy.
  • Chronic kidney disease.
  • Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • Heart failure.
  • Hormone therapy.


What does swollen legs and feet indicate?

Common causes of swollen ankles, feet and legs

eating too much salty food. being overweight. being pregnant. taking certain medicines – such as some blood pressure medicines, contraceptive pills, hormone therapy, antidepressants or steroids.


What causes extreme swelling in lower legs and feet?

Fluid buildup (edema): It happens when the tissues or blood vessels in your legs hold more fluid than they should. This can happen if you simply spend a long day on your feet or sit for too long. But it may also be a sign that you're overweight or don't get enough exercise, or of more serious medical conditions.

How do I get rid of fluid in my legs and feet?

Home Care
  1. Put your legs on pillows to raise them above your heart while lying down.
  2. Exercise your legs. ...
  3. Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling.
  4. Wear support stockings (sold at most drugstores and medical supply stores).
  5. When traveling, take breaks often to stand up and move around.


Know In detail About Causes, sign & symptoms of Swollen Legs - Dr Rajiv Parakh



When should you go to the hospital for swollen feet and legs?

Seek medical care right away if your legs swell for no apparent reason, especially if you have unexplained leg pain, difficulty breathing, chest pain or other warning signs of a blood clot in your lungs or a heart condition. Many factors — varying greatly in severity — can cause leg swelling.

What causes legs to swell from knees down?

Leg swelling can result either from fluid buildup (fluid retention) or from inflammation in injured or diseased tissues or joints. Many of the causes of leg swelling, such as an injury or prolonged standing or sitting, are common, easily identified and no reason for concern.

How do you know if swelling is serious?

If the swelling does not go away or it occurs repeatedly, it is essential to make an appointment with a doctor to determine whether there is an underlying cause. If swollen feet occur alongside shortness of breath, chest pain, or pressure in the chest, call the emergency services immediately.


What kind of doctor should I see for swollen feet and legs?

If you experience swelling that does not go away on its own, make an appointment to see your primary doctor. If the issue doesn't improve, ask your doctor for a referral to a vascular specialist.

How can you tell if your ankle is swollen and your heart is related?

Swelling in the Legs, Ankles, or Feet

Swelling (edema) in your lower legs is another sign of a heart problem. When your heart doesn't work as well, blood flow slows and backs up in the veins in your legs. This causes fluid to build up in your tissues.

Is edema in the legs life threatening?

Leg swelling is a common issue that can be caused by many different medical conditions. Sometimes, leg swelling is a sign of a life-threatening problem that needs urgent evaluation. Treatment of leg swelling is different for each person and depends on the underlying cause.


How serious is swollen feet and ankles?

Swollen ankles and swollen feet are common and usually not cause for concern, particularly if you have been standing or walking a lot. But feet and ankles that stay swollen or are accompanied by other symptoms could signal a serious health problem.

Can bowel problems cause leg swelling?

Abdominal compartment syndrome due to colonic obstruction can contribute to the development of lower-extremity edema. Colon decompression with reduction of intra-abdominal pressure can lead to resolution of edema in this situation.

What happens if leg swelling is left untreated?

If left untreated, leg swelling can lead to associated infections, wounds and the development of permanent swelling. Any leg swelling associated with chest pain, dizziness, breathing difficulty or confusion warrants an emergency medical evaluation.


Can you be hospitalized for swollen feet and ankles?

You should go to the hospital immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms along with foot, leg, and ankle swelling: pain, pressure, or tightness in the chest area. dizziness.

What are the 4 types of swelling?

Types
  • Peripheral edema: This affects the feet, ankles, legs, hands, and arms. ...
  • Pulmonary edema: This occurs when excess fluid collects in the lungs, making breathing difficult. ...
  • Cerebral edema: This occurs in the brain. ...
  • Macular edema: This is a serious complication of diabetic retinopathy.


How long is too long for swelling?

If your swelling is chronic, or lasts longer than 2-3 weeks, you should see your doctor. Your doctor will be able to recommend medication, exercise or therapy to resolve the swelling. Remember, swelling is the body's reaction to an injury; if the swelling is still present, so is the injury.


How do you get rid of swollen legs fast?

Lifestyle and home remedies
  1. Movement. Moving and using the muscles in the part of your body affected by edema, especially your legs, may help pump the excess fluid back toward your heart. ...
  2. Elevation. ...
  3. Massage. ...
  4. Compression. ...
  5. Protection. ...
  6. Reduce salt intake.


Why am I retaining fluid in my legs?

You can experience water retention in the legs, ankles, or feet as well as the face and hands. It's caused by fluid buildup in body tissues. Sitting for a long time during the workday or on plane flights, hormone changes during pregnancy, and even standing for too long can all cause this to happen.

Does walking help swollen legs?

Exercise-The most effective forms of exercise to help combat leg swelling are swimming, walking, and biking. Exercising in a pool is a great form of exercise for swelling because the water applies full-body compression. This helps fluid travel from the tissues to the vessels getting fluid back into the circulation.


Can thyroid cause swelling in legs?

Your legs and ankles look swollen.

Because hypothyroidism can cause the body's processes to slow down, it can lead to water retention, which will typically show up in your lower body—your hips, knees, ankles, and feet—because of gravity, says Feinberg.

What is the best treatment for swollen feet and legs?

Treatment Options for Swollen Legs, Feet & Ankles
  • Elevation. At the first sign of swollen extremities, you should elevate your feet to increase blood flow. ...
  • Exercise/Movement. ...
  • Increase Water Consumption. ...
  • Reexamine Your Diet and Weight. ...
  • Invest in Compression socks.


Does swollen feet and ankles mean heart failure?

Swelling of the foot, ankle and leg can be severe enough to leave an indentation (pit) when you press on the area. This swelling (edema) is the result of excess fluid in your tissues — often caused by congestive heart failure or blockage in a leg vein.


What does swollen feet mean medically?

Although swelling of the feet and ankles can be a minor problem, it can also be an indication of more serious illnesses such as heart failure, renal failure, or liver failure. The abnormal buildup of fluid in the body is called edema.

When should I see a doctor about swollen feet?

When should you call the doctor? Report your symptoms to your doctor if there's so much swelling that it leaves an indentation if you press your finger into it, or if it has developed suddenly, lasts for more than a few days, affects just one foot, or is accompanied by pain or discoloration of the skin.